News Recap And Weekend Open Thread

[…] Acting in concert with Europe, the Obama administration froze the U.S. assets of seven Russian officials, including top advisers to President Vladimir Putin, for their support of Crimea’s vote to secede from Ukraine, while similar sanctions were imposed on four Ukrainian officials for instigating Sunday’s Crimean referendum.

[…]

“If Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine, we stand ready to impose further sanctions,” Obama declared at the White House shortly after the penalties were announced. He noted that Vice President Joe Biden would be traveling to Europe late Monday to reassure Eastern European leaders of America’s commitment to them and that he himself would be going next week on a previously planned trip to make a similar point. Secretary of State John Kerry also is expected in Europe in the coming days.

“We’ll continue to make clear to Russia that further provocations will achieve nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world,” he said. “The international community will continue to stand together to oppose any violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and continued Russian military intervention in Ukraine will only deepen Russia’s diplomatic isolation and exact a greater toll on the Russian economy.”[…]

Well, THAT oughta learn ’em, eh? Ahem. Yeah, those sanctions were pretty much met with derision across the board, including from former Presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain:

But administration critics said Obama’s actions were too little to convince Putin of anything.

“I think Vladimir Putin must be encouraged by the absolute timidity,” said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who had just returned from a weekend trip to Kiev.

“I don’t know how it could have been weaker, besides doing nothing – seven people being sanctioned after naked aggression has taken place,” he told MSNBC. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

Apparently, after Putin stopped laughing, he decided to throw some sanctions our way too, according to The Hill:

[…] A total of 9 U.S. officials will be denied entry into the Russian Federation under the Kremlin’s action.

All righty then. A little “tit for tat” between the USA and Russia, it appears. Not sure how all of this is going to play out, but I am sure in between the coverage of the plane disappearing, we’ll know something eventually.

Speaking of our strong (cough, cough) Foreign Policy, the US is demanding an apology from the Israel’s Defense Minister (h/t Liz). Why? Well, Defense Minister Yoshe Ya’alon made this statement according to Haaretz:

[…] On Monday, Ya’alon attacked the United States for failing to lead the campaign against Iran. “But at some stage the United States entered into negotiations with them, and unhappily, when it comes to negotiating at a Persian bazaar, the Iranians were better,” said Ya’alon, speaking during an event at Tel Aviv University, as reported by Haaretz.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday with Ya’alon, regarding the uproar caused by the latter’s remarks, which also criticized American conduct regarding the Ukraine crisis, as well as American relations with China and Asia. At one point, the defense minister had said: “Look what’s happening in Ukraine, where the United States is demonstrating weakness, unfortunately.” […]

Oopsie daisy. Well, as you might imagine, this did not sit well with SoS Kerry who spoke to OM Netanyahu about the incident.

Or maybe it is because previously, Ya’alon made this comment about Sec. Kerry:

Ouch. I reckon Kerry wasn’t any too thrilled about that. But then again, I imagine Israel is none too thrilled that Kerry capitulated to Palestine that they don’t need to recognize Israel’s right to exist. So, yeah, I guess I can see why Israel might feel just a little cranky about Sec. Kerry, and our Foreign Policy toward other countries, ESPECIALLY Iran. Ahem.

Finally, in the “No Freakin’ DUH” Department, we have this realization by Democratic Senator And former Obama Sycophant, Claire McCaskill, who has finally come to the conclusion that having a MASSIVE debt is not all that great for the country. From the Daily Caller:

[…] “But I do believe that a $17 trillion debt is irresponsible,” she continued. “I do believe that.”

“So some of the people who think, ‘Well, you know, deficits don’t matter, and debt doesn’t matter,’ — we have cut our deficit by a lot, and that’s great — but I don’t think it’s responsible to say, ‘Ok, let’s go back to the old way.’”

“Because you know what the old way was?” McCaskill asked. “We said yes to everybody. You know, we all want to be loved. That’s why we run for office.”

OHMYGOSH, really??? That’s why she ran for office? Because she wanted to be LOVED??? Oh my, in the name of all that is holy, you have GOT to be kidding me that this is the kind of person we have making major decisions for the NATION. Then again, when she announced back in 2008 that she was going with Obama over the more qualified woman candidate because her teenager convinced her to do so, I knew she wasn’t made of much sterner, or smarter, stuff.

That said, she did add on this interesting tidbit:

The Democratic senator also took aim at what she views as unconstitutional overreach by the federal government. “We have ourselves doing things the federal government was never intended to do,” she worried. “I mean, we weren’t supposed to be buying municipal fire trucks, the federal government. We’re doing that now.”

“That’s not the way the Constitution was designed,” she asserted. “We weren’t supposed to have the federal government paying for education. We are now doing a lot of that.” […] (Click here to read the rest.)

I agree – the Federal Government IS overreaching, including in Eduction, and violating the Constitution. So, what are you going to DO about it, Sen. McCaskill??? That’s what I would like to know.

Good grief, the “brain trusts” we have minding the store…Wonder if we’ll get some better people in office in 2014? Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

Well’ that’s it for me. I am out of town this weekend, heading to a Spring Training Game Friday evening to see my beloved Captain, Derek Jeter, in this his last Spring Training before retiring at the end of the season. So while I will be away from the computer for much of the weekend, I will try and check in occasionally.

Not yet, but I hope I can get him to sign my jersey with his number on it today! The only Yankee with whom I have spoken was Johnny Damon when he signed a ball for me. The ball was a foul one hit by A-Rod during Batting Practice that hit Suzy in the arm. As it turned out, that was a very good thing or else it would have hit a very pregnant woman right in the abdomen…

Anyway, I saw that Jeted was signing autographs before another Spring Training game, so I am hopeful. And by all accounts, even from Red Sox players, he is a very nice guy, is friendly, and also has a foundation to help young people. 🙂

I cracked up reading about Claire Bear’s sudden change of heart. She reminds me of the last time we saw some major bipartisanship, back when Jefferson was accused of stashing cash in his freezer. Suddenly every congresscrtter in Washington supported the bill of rights and the rule of law. With the CIA now alleged to be spying on Congress, they suddenly seem to be very concerned about federal over reach.

It is a bit laughable, isn’t it? Especially from Claire, after they way she acted in 2008.

Oh, I actually had a bit in here abt Sen. Reid asking the Senate Sgt of Arms to. Investigate the claims abt the CIA spying from The Hill, but had to remove it lest this post be too lengthy. Thanks for mentioning it! And you are SO right abt their big concern now abt the Constitution. Please…

Absolutely. This would be very different country with Mitt at the helm rather than the man we have now who is bankrupting this nation with his policies and single-handed un-Constitutional EOs.

It still amazes me how many people were duped by this man, bought the PR, ignored the inexperience, and believed the MSM rather than facts abt both Obama AND Romney. Just appalling. But most people turn on NBC or ABC or CBS for their news, and there ya have it…

An older, retired veteran shared some recollections in an article in our local newspaper.
{ In the early 20th century, Japan had become an international Pacific power and a threat to the then dominant British Empire and the United States. There were numerous treaties to limit Japan’s sea power and its attempt to colonize parts of Asia. After Japan invaded China, the U.S. decided to impose sanctions, particularly oil, steel, and scrap metal, much of which was supplied by the U.S.
There is a lot that lack of space won’t permit me to cover, but the lack of raw materials forced those who were friendly toward the U.S. out of power, allowing an expansionist military government to take control. In order to get raw materials that were needed, Japan started to expand and entered into an alliance with the Axis powers (Germany and Italy).
It’s a lot more complicated than I alluded to, but we know what happened: the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines and four years of world war.}
It is disconcerting to see Russian tanks crashing into Ukrainian bases as those stationed there are in retreat. Even more so, since Russia is already aligned with countries like Iran and Syria.